Fuel mixer



Ap 1 1942. R. A. CARROLL r 2,279,776

. FUEL MIXER Filed Nov. 22, 1940 3nnentor Gttorneg Patented Apr. 14, 1942 no stares tartar was] Robert A. Carroll, West Finley, Pa. Application November 22, 1940, Serial No. 366,631

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved fuel mixer, and while primarily designed and intended for gas burners of the type used in ranges, water heaters, heating furnaces, hot plates and the like, it will be obvious that the device maybe employed in connection with any types of gas burners wherein it is found to be applicable.

Important objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a fuel mixer of the character described, which will operate automatically to regulate the proportional mixture of air and gas as the fuel is being supplied to the burner, whichv may be readily installed to' a fuel control valve already constructed as well as form a component part of a new valve structure, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and efficient in its use, compact, and comparatively economical in its manufacture, installation, operation and maintenance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that the latter is merely illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, and that the actual needs of practice and manufacture may require certain mechanical variations from the embodiment shown. It is therefore, not intended to limit the invention to the disclosure thereof shown, but rather to define such limitations in the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts through the several views:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a fuel mixer constructed in accordance with the invention. Y

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a side view of the quadrant gear embodied in the present invention. 7

Referring in detail to the drawing i denotes a conventional type of mixing tube of a gas burner, not shown, including the usual bellshaped outer end 2. A gas control-valve 3, of a suitable construction, is connected with the mixing tube end 2 by means of a comparatively short length of interposed pipe 4, and with the source of gas supply by valve 3 includes a valve stem and an operating member I fixed to the latter.

The mixing tube end 2 is provided with an end wall 8, which is formed with a pair of air means of a pipe 5. The

passages 9, and is covered by a shutter '18, which is positioned flatly against said end wall 8. The shutter is formedwitha pair of openings H, and is revolubly adjustable to disposed said openings ll in registration with the passages 9: in the end wall 8.v The shutter is maintained in position against the end wall. 8 by means oi'a screw'l2, which is engaged in the end wall 8 and extends through an arcuate slot [3 formed in the shutter to limit the adjusting movement of the latter. The shutter carries a hub l4 engaged on the pipe 4 to provide stability facilitating the adjustment of the shutter.

The feature of the invention .resides in an operating mechanism. for automatically and simultaneously'adju'sting the shutter l0 to-regurlate the air supply each time the valve 3 is operated to regulate the gas supply, to thereby provide an effective fuel mixture promoting the most eificient fuel combustion.

The operating mechanism comprises a supporting frame I5 including a clamp Hi. The latter is removably engaged on the valve pipe 4 for fixedly securing the supporting frame in position above the valve 3. The top of the frame is formed to provide a bearing sleeve H in which an operating shaft I8 is revolubly mounted. The frame I5 includes an arm [9, which depends from the outer end of the sleeve l1 and carries a bearing ring 20 at the lower end thereof.

A segment gear 2i is fixed to the peripheral top of the shutter I0 and meshes with a pinion 22, which is adjustably secured to the inner end of the operating shaft IS. The latter has a projection 23 normally extending beyond the pinion 22, whereby said pinion may be shifted on the projection from its meshed engagement with the segment gear 2| to allow the independent adjustment of the shutter H] to regulate the air passage areas effected by the operation of the operating mechanism in the manner to be described.

A driving gear 24, including an elongated hub 25, is mounted on the valve stem 6. A thumb screw 26 is mounted on the hub 25 and engages in a groove 21 which extends longitudinally in the valve stem. The engagement of the screw 26 in the groove 21 causes the rotation of the gear 24 with the stem 6, but allows the longi tudinal movement of the latter in the hub 25. The release of the screw 26 permits the free rotation of the stem 6 in the hub 25. The hub 25 of the gear 24 extends through and is revoluble in the bearing ring 20, and the latter serves to maintain the gear 24 in position on the valve stem. A quadrant gear 28 is secured to the outer end of the operating'shait l8 and meshes with the driving gear 24, whereby the said shaft I8 is actuated to operate the'pinion 22 to shift the shutter III to the adjusted positions,

From the foregoingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that when the screw 26. is engaged in the groove 21 and the gas control valve 3 is operated by the rotation of the stem 6, the operating mechanism will be actuated to adjust the shutter It) to thereby regulate the air passage areas through said shutter openings II and through the passages 9 wall 8. If for any reason it is desired to operate the gas valve 3 independently, it is only necessary to release the screw 26 from its engagement in the groove 21.

In many types of gas control valves the valve stem makes only a partial rotation to efiect any and'all possible'regulating adjustments, and in' other types of valves complete revolutions of the stem is required to effect all adjustments. In the use of my improved shutter operating mechanism in connection with a gas valve, in the manner stated, it is of course essential that the relative. gearratios be such as to provide the required shutter movement to supply the quantity of air with the gas to best adapt the fuelmixture to promote complete and eflicient combustion.

As the screw 26 is engaged in the groove 21 in the valve stem 6, the latter is free to shift longitudinally in the casing of the valve when adjusting same to regulate to gas supply, without. in any way afiecting the operation of the shutter operating mechanism inv the manner set forth;

in the mixer tube end The present invention provides a most eflicient device of its kind, which may be successfully employed for automatically and simultaneously regulating the air supply by the adjustment of an associated gas supply valve, to provide a fuel mixture best adapted for most efiicient combustion.

What I claim is:

In an air and gas control for a gas burner, the combination of a fuel mixing tube including an end wall formed with air passages, a shutter connected with said end wall adjustable for regulating said air pasages, a gas valve including a grooved valve stem adjustable for regulating the gas supply, a valve pipe connecting said valve with said tube, a segment gear fixed to the peripheral top of said shutter, a driving gear including an elongated hub revolubly mounted on said stem, a screw engaged in said hub and being adjustable to project said screw into the groove of said stem to prevent the rotation of said driving gear on said stemnwhile allowing longitudinal shiitable movement of said stem through said hub, said screw being further adjustable to retract said screw from said groove to allow the rotation of said stem in said hub, a supporting frame secured to said valve pipe and including a bearing ring engaging said hub for maintaining said driving gear in position with respect to said valve, an operating shaft revolublysupported in said frame, a pinion carried atone end of said shaft and meshing with said segment gear, a quadrant gear fixed to the other end of said shaft and meshing with said driving gear, said pinion being adjustable on.

said shaft to disengage said pinion from said segment gear.

ROBERT A. CARROLL. 

